Gravity cups

ABSTRACT

A drinking vessel has a sidewall formed of multiple structured layers. The sidewall includes an open spout and a closed base. A circumference of the side wall at the base is larger than a circumference of the side wall at the open spout to provide the drinking vessel with a lowered center of gravity than a traditional drinking vessel with the closed base narrower than the open spout. The sidewall includes multiple structured layers to form a scaffold structure.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/355,855 filed Jun. 28, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to cups, mugs and liquid vessel, and more particularly to a stable liquid vessel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The structure of traditional cups with a narrow diameter base, wide diameter spouts and single layer lining are not designed with stability or safety in mind. This presents a problem for young children, our elderly population and any individuals with age related decreased awareness of temperature sensitivity as well as health conditions resulting in reduced sensitivity or muscle strength and fine motor function deficits of the hands, which disallows them from using traditional cups properly.

Accordingly, the claimed invention proceeds upon the desirability of providing a stable drinking vessel which minimizes spillage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the claimed invention is to provide a stable drinking vessel which minimizes spillage or being inadvertently tilt over.

Another object of the claimed invention is to provide aforesaid drinking vessel which changes the center of gravity as compared to traditional drinking vessel.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, a drinking vessel comprises a sidewall formed of multiple structured layers. The sidewall comprises an open spout and a closed base. A circumference of the side wall at the base is larger than a circumference of the side wall at the open spout to provide the drinking vessel with a lowered center of gravity than a traditional drinking vessel with the closed base narrower than the open spout. The sidewall comprises multiple structured layers to form a scaffold structure.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the aforesaid scaffold structure comprises an outer shell that comes into contact with a user, an inner shell, an outer lining, an inner lining that holds content of the drinking vessel, and an air pocket insulation between the inner shell and the outer lining.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the aforesaid drinking vessel comprises vents on the outer and inner shells of the sidewall to facilitate heat-cold air exchanges to regulate a temperature of the outer shell.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the aforesaid vents on the outer shell provide an uneven gripping surface to prevent slippage.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the aforesaid vents facilitate evaporation and drainage of water forming on the outer shell.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the aforesaid scaffold structure comprises an inner base and an outer base rim to double layers of the closed base, thereby increasing a surface area of the closed base.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the aforesaid air pocket insulation of the scaffold structure decreases a heat/cold transfer from the content of the drinking vessel to the outer shell.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the aforesaid air pocket insulation of the scaffold structure decreases condensation on the outer shell caused by a heat/cold exchange between the content of the drinking vessel and outside, thereby a minimizing wet slippery outer shell surface.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the aforesaid drinking vessel is stackable unto a second drinking vessel. The narrow end of the scaffold structure of the drinking vessel is insertable into the wide end of a scaffold structure of the second drinking vessel to provide stacking for a compact storage.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the aforesaid drinking vessel is a mug, a drinking glass, a drinking bottle, a tumbler or a bowl.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the claimed invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing detailed description, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description, given by way of example, and not intended to limit the claimed invention solely thereto, will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a gravity cup in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a gravity cup in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a gravity cup comprising vents in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a gravity cup comprising vents in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a gravity cup comprising the scaffold safety/security structure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates stacked gravity cups in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the cup 100 comprises a sidewall 150 with a base 600 that is wider than a cup spout 700. That is, the claimed cup 100 has a design that is inverted from the traditional cup which has wider cup spot than the base. The cup 100 comprises a scaffold safety/security structure 800 formed of multiple structured layers: an inner lining 200, an outer lining 300, an inner shell 400 and outer shell 500.

By taking the ergonomics of the hand into consideration, as well as the center of gravity of a cup filled with any substance, the claimed invention proceeds on a desirability to fill a need that exists in the marketplace for a safer and more stable cup. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the diameter of the cup base 600 is increased over the traditional cup while decreasing the diameter of the cup spout 700, and adding structural layers to the cup to create a new, more ergonomic and safer cup 100.

By changing the cup's center of gravity along with other structural improvements as detailed herein, whether full or empty, the claimed cup 100 with wider cup base 600 is more stable resting on any surface over the traditional cup. A filled cup 100 of the claimed invention allows the majority of the volume of the liquid to sit closest to the base of the cup 600, thereby adding weight and enhancing stability while sitting or resting on the surface.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the cup 100 comprises multiple structural layers to create a scaffold safety/stability structure 800. The scaffold safety/stability structure 800 is created by the multiple structural layers of the outer shell 500, the inner shell 400, an outer lining 300 and an inner lining 200 in conjunction with the air pocket insulation 900. The scaffolding stability structure 800 has multiple functions that improve safety and convenience.

Firstly, as exemplary shown in FIG. 2, the scaffold safety/stability structure 800 doubles the layers of the base 600 of the cup 100 with an inner base 1000 and an outer base rim 1100. This provides additional contact points to increase the surface area of the cup 100, thereby increasing the friction between the cup 100 and the resting surface, e.g., a table. When this scaffolding stability structure 800 is combined the wider base 600 of the cup 100, the circumference of the base 600 being larger than the circumference of the cup spout 700, it is even more difficult to accidentally tip over or knock down the cup 100.

As exemplary shown in FIG. 5, the addition of the scaffold stability structure 800 has an added benefit of providing insulation 900 by allowing a pocket of air to exist between the outer lining 300 and the inner shell 400 of the cup 100. This insulates the outer shell 500 of the cup 100, where the user's hands and mouth make contact with the cup 100. This advantageously protects the user from potentially harmful radiant temperature exchanges from within the inner lining 200 to the outer shell 500.

The insulation 900 resulting from the scaffolding stability structure 800 also advantageously decreases the chance of injury to persons with decreased physical or mental awareness of temperature changes, e.g., persons with Alzheimers, Peripheral Neuropathy, Raynauds Syndrome, Stroke, Arthritis, Dementia and/or age related reduced hot/cold awareness, such as for children and the elderly. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the claimed invention decreases the chance of injury or discomfort by decreasing the heat/cold transfer from the substances, e.g., liquid drinks, within the inner lining 200 to the outer lining 300 and to the outer shell 500. For example, when hot tea is within the inner lining 200, the outer shell 500 of the cup 100 remains insulated by the multiple structural layers of the scaffold safety structure 800, which includes the inner lining 200, the outer lining 300, the inner shell 400 and the outer shell 500 in conjunction with the insulation 900 between the inner shell 300 and the outer shell 400. That is, in the claimed invention, when a user holds the cup 100, the user's hand will not make contact with the hot surface of the traditional cup, but rather with an insulated surface 300, e.g., outer shell 500, of the cup 100. The outer shell of the traditional cups is not insulated and do not decrease the heat/cold transfer of the substance contained in the cup, therefore potentially, rending the cup unsafe particularly for children and elderly. The single shell layer structure of the traditional cup does not decrease the radiant temperature exchanges occurring from inside the traditional cup to the external surface of the traditional cup.

Further, the multiple structural layers of the scaffold safety/stability structure 800 and insulation 900 reduces condensation on the outer shell 500 of the cup 100 by reducing the temperature exchange between the atmosphere and the temperature of the substance contained within the inner lining 200 of the cup 100. Condensation on the outer shell 500 of the cup 100 creates slippery surfaces also can potentially cause spillage and accidents. The claimed invention advantageously reduces the condensation problem associated with the traditional cups.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, the air pocket insulation 900 resulting from the scaffolding stability structure 800 reduces the extreme temperature transfer from the contents, e.g., hot coffee, of the cup 100. This assist in preventing burning, freezing or numbness and discomfort experienced by the user holding the traditional cup filled with hot or frozen drinks, which can result in the user releasing or dropping the traditional cup in response to the discomfort. This potentially may lead not only to spills, but to burns and injury.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the scaffolding stability structure 800 provides a novel way to the stack a plurality of cups 100 for storage and/or travel despite the increased base diameter and decreased spout diameter of the cups 100.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in FIGS. 3-4, the cup 100 comprises vents 1200 on the outer shell 500 of the cup 100 allowing for intake of cold air and exhaust of hot air for hot substances, thereby facilitating heat-cold exchanges to regulate the temperature of the outer shell 500. Similarly, vents 1200 allow intake of warm air and exhaust of cold air for cold substances. The vents 1200 can be any shape and it is not limited to the circular and elongated shape shown in FIGS. 3-4. Additionally, the vents 1200 provides uneven surface for easier gripping of the cup 100, thereby preventing slippage while holding the outer shell 500 of the cup 100 by the user. Further, the vents 1200 advantageously facilitates easy cleaning and evaporation by reducing the condensation and/or allowing for the drainage of the water, for example, when the cups 100 are washed. That is, the cups 100 can be easily dried when placed on their side, base 600 or spout 700.

Although the claimed invention has been shown and described with a cup, the claimed invention is not limited to cups and is applicable to any vessels used for holding liquids, such as mugs, drinking bottles, drinking glasses, tumblers, containers, bowls and the like.

Various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited to the foregoing specification, but instead is given by the appended claims along with their full range of equivalents. 

1. A drinking vessel comprising a sidewall formed of multiple structured layers, the sidewall comprising an open spout and a closed base, a circumference of the sidewall at the base is larger than a circumference of the sidewall at the open spout to provide the drinking vessel with a lowered center of gravity than a traditional drinking vessel with the closed base narrower than the open spout; and wherein the sidewall comprises multiple structured layers to form a scaffold structure.
 2. The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein the scaffold structure comprises an outer shell that comes into contact with a user, an inner shell, an outer lining, an inner lining that holds content of the drinking vessel, and an air pocket insulation between the inner shell and the outer lining.
 3. The drinking vessel of claim 1, further comprising vents on the outer and inner shells of the sidewall to facilitate heat-cold air exchanges to regulate a temperature of the outer shell.
 4. The drinking vessel of claim 3, wherein the vents on the outer shell provide an uneven gripping surface to prevent slippage.
 5. The drinking vessel of claim 3, wherein the vents facilitate evaporation and drainage of water forming on the outer shell.
 6. The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein the scaffold structure comprises an inner base and an outer base rim to double layers of the closed base, thereby increasing a surface area of the closed base.
 7. The drinking vessel of claim 2, wherein the air pocket insulation of the scaffold structure decreases a heat/cold transfer from the content of the drinking vessel to the outer shell.
 8. The drinking vessel of claim 2, wherein the air pocket insulation of the scaffold structure decreases condensation on the outer shell caused by a heat/cold exchange between the content of the drinking vessel and outside, thereby a minimizing wet slippery outer shell surface.
 9. The drinking vessel of claim 2 is stackable unto a second drinking vessel.
 10. The drinking vessel of claim 9, wherein a narrow end of the scaffold structure of the drinking vessel is insertable into a wide end of a scaffold structure of the second drinking vessel to provide stacking for a compact storage.
 11. The drinking vessel of claim 1 is a mug, a drinking glass, a drinking bottle, a tumbler or a bowl. 